Fruit stemmer and cleaner



Feb. 8,1927. 1,617,105

R. P. FRIST FRUIT STEMMER AND CLEANER Filed April 20, 1926 42 Sheets- Sheet 2 [[Q: n o a l Il I J6- I n o s i 2l 4f l lo JZ 29 0 J8 12 19 i Qa L E; Q42 4a Y OCFZLR rL'SZT Patented Feb. s, 1927.

ROBT 1 1. QRIsrQoFVLoitGlieEAo-H, CALKIORNIA, Assrenoaor oNnHnL-F c. rarer, F LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA. f

'Apncet'ig fue@ April 20,1926. "seal Nojioazaz. l

This Viin/en tion relates to an vimpro'r'fedffde-V vice forre'moving the stems l(from and clelan ing deciduous fruits and f'tlieli-kend par'- ticiilarly an improvement overfthexdevice disclosed inmy prior vPatent No.` 1,403,399, issued January 10, 1922.Y f

Anobjec't-'of this invention is to provide an improved device'for cleaning and removmentioned characteristics 'in which therefis an entrance through vvhich the fruit maybe fed to the lmachine, and 5to 'provide a construction in lthe entrance for breaking 'up the'cluste'rs (if fruit. f

A 'further dbjefct 'of'this 'invention :is 'to combine `with `a machine-of the character disclosed in pri-or patent a constructiii for separatingfthe jfruit 4a'c'coifclirigto their respective siies. 4

With the foregoing and other Iobjectsin view `which Will be made mani-fest in the following detailed description and "specifically pointed lout in the vapp/ended claims, ieference lis had :to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative eiribjo'diinen't ofthe invention, Whereini y Figure llk is a top lplan vieu`T of A'the 1mproved machine, l

Fig. 2is a side elevation ofthe same,

Fig. 3 is La vievvl in end 'elevation taken substantially in the direction offfthe 'arrow 3 upon Fig. 2,

Fige is a verticalsection taken upon the line of Fig. l, and l i 'Fig'. 5 is a .yerti'cal Vsection taken 'on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Referring tothe accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts 'throughout,-'the improved machine will be described in connection With handling raisins', as itis vprimarily designed io 'be used for this purpose, although it 'vvill he readily understood v.that mchineniay be equally Well employed ivhen using 'va i" i-V ous other kinds of fruit. The device "c'onsi'sts of a barrel 10 supported ofna'ny suitable support 1l. The rear end `of the barrel e'on .sists of a plurality of stationary aligned fegnients 12 which are s'p'fl il each other "and vv'hich are'istationarilymounted on the sipport v'3121. In thefforw'ard lthe Vbarrel there isa. Wall ltfliavin'g a Vplurality ofapertures I5 therein. These'apertiiresare f normally: closed Vby removable plugs vforniing removable closures. -An 'air "pipe 17 is eoiiriected to the vfront Wall f4 serves to convey compressed airtofthe 'interior 'of the barrel so Yas* to `discharge a stream of fair rear# 4Wardly through the barrel.v -The Stationary Vsegments l2 are provided With recessed sideV faces forming 'annular 'flanges-"18, and impingement elements'. are ,i disposed ,there/'be ttveen. These limp'ingeinent elements are in theform'of ringsf19 having annular shoulders 20 'on their side faces Which fitrwithin andbear against .t'heannular4 flangesn'lS'Q The impinger'nent elements 'may be of any desired construction, but the preferred form is vto r`employstrips of sheet `metal 2l ar-fl ranged inta parallel manner ivithin the rings i videdtvitli y tongues bent alternately in oppositedireetionssuch y my prior patent.

shereeemaea are effen-ged upon app-e! site sides ofthe barrel and are' rotatable within bearings 24 and 255 respectively, ivhihcan be 'providedn the stationary seg# ments i2. Theseshaftsf'ca'rry pinions 26 and 27 respectively, vvhich mesh vvithgear teeth formed on `the exterior surfacesof the rings 19. The pinion's 26 mesh with the gear teeth on alternating imping'ement elementsfand the pinions 27 'mesh Withr tlie'gear teeth on the intermediate impingement elements. As

is clealy 'dise'losed in 7- i' I A S0 a 'means for rotating 'the shafts, standards i.

28 are provided on one 'side-of fthe barrel and these Vstandards provide bearings f or tvvo short. shafts 29 and 30. lOn the upper shaft 29 there/is a pulley 31 adapted 'toV be dri'xjfe'n by a belt 32 from any suital'jlev 'source of vpover, 'and also a'pinion 33 which meshes lio ed over the the shafty 23 is rotated by the gear 84 through the impingement 'element with which it meshes. VThe pinion 35 and the pinion on the shaft 32 with which it meshes cause the shaft 22 to be rotated in a direction opposite to the direction 'of rotation of the shaft 23. Consequently, alternate impingement elements will be rotated in Vone direction and intermediate impingement elements vvill be rotated in an Vopposite direction.

elements 38. are very similar in constructionV to the stationary segments 12 and the iinpingement elements 19, Vexcept that these yparts are provided with a plurality of parallel bars or rods,rwhereas the segments 12 andthe impingement elements 19 are preferably provided withV strips of sheet metal having theiriorward edges provided with alternately bent lugs or tongues. .Vertical shafts 39V and 40 are rotatablymounted in Vbearings on the sides of the stationary segvments '87, and these shafts are driven through minor gears by their respective horizontal shafts 22 and 23. They 4carry pinions meshing` with the gear teeth formed on the exterior surfaces ofthe cluster breaking elements 38, so that some of the cluster breaking elements will be rotated in one direction while other cluster breaking elements will vbe rotated in another direction. The fruit can be fed into this entrance so provided by means of a hopper 41. At th-e rear of the barrel there are arranged two outlets, indicated at 42A and 43, and a plurality oi' parallel bars or rods 44 arearranged in the barre-l between these outlets, forming a type of coarse screen. A finer screen V is mount4 rearend of the barrel behind the outlet 43.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The compressed air is supplied to the-barrel by means of the airpipe 17 and is'forced therethrough between the strips 21 of the impingementvv elements, passing through the screens 44 and 45on leaving the barrel. The raisins or other fruit are supplied tothe barrel by means of the hopper 41 and the pulley 31 is continually driven by the belt 32. From the `driving connection above ex* plained, the cluster breaking elements 38 are vrotated relatively to each other and in opposite directions, so that if the raisins are in clusters, they willbe effectively broken up and separated from eaeh other by the relative rotation of the cluster breaking ele- Yrearwardly through the inipingement ments. The separated raisins or other fruit then fall into the barrel and are blovvnrearwardly by the air blast striking against the strips or plates 21 ot the impingement elements. Because of the construction of the plates or strips 21 of the impingement elements, the ste-ms on the raisins will be eii'ectively caught "and separated from the fruit. As the various impingement elements are rotating relatively to each other and inv oppo site directions, the positions of the plates or strips 21 are continually varied, so that-each raisin on passing through the barrel will encounter several plates on various impinge ment elements, insuring that the stems will be removed. Because of the raisins striking against several impingement elements, any dirt or undesirable Jforeign matter which may be on thel exterior ofthe raisins will be eiiectively removed therefrom and the stems and the dirt'V will be blownl rearwardly through the screens 44 and 45. rihe raisins, however, will vstrike the screens 44 and 45, the largerraisins being stopped by the screen 44 and cause-d1 to fall, passingjitrom the barrel through the outlet 42.Y rlhe smaller raisins, however, will pass through the screen 44 and will be stoppe-d by the finer screen 45, passing from the barrelthrough the outlet 43. From this construction it will be apprev leo many oit these raisins accumulate in this position, the lower plugs 16 can be removed, and as there will be a partial vacuum formed inthe barrel immediately behind the front wall because. of the discharge ot air,V air from the outside of the barrel will be drawn v through the apertures 15, thus causing` a material increase iny air flow, sweeping up the raisins which may have accumulated on the bottomvot' the barre'l'and forcing them elements. Y ,l Y

From theabove described construction it will be appreciated that the improved niachine for handling` fruits is a decidediinprovement over the construction disclosed in my prior patent, the important featurey being that in this construction there is pro-V vided means for rotating or moving the various impingement elements relatively Ato each other. .iinrthermore.lv there is'provided a mechanism for breakingup the clusters` or" raisins on enteringthe machine, so that siev 13ers,

the operation of the imping'ement'elements' will become much more effective.

It will be understood'that variouschanges' may be made in the detail of construction without departing `from the spi-'rit or scope ofthe invention as defined' by the appended claims.

I claim: I

l. A device of theelassv described comprising means providing a passageway, fl'u'id means for forcing fruit through vthe passageway, i-mpingement elements arranged 'inf the passageway, and means for movingv said impingeinent elements. i

2. A device ofthe class described comprising means providing al passageway, huid means for forcing fruit through the passageway, iiiipinge-ment elements Aarranged in the passageway, vand means for moving' some of aid impingement elem'ents'yrelativelyV to" the others. Y l i u A; device ofthe class described comprising 1 means providing a p'assageway,` fluid means for forcing fruit through the passageway,.iiiipingenient element-s arranged inthe passageway, and means forjrotfating said impingement elements. Y

it. A device" of the class described comprisiiig. inea-ns providing a passageway, fluid means for' forcing fruit through the'passageway, impingement elements arranged in the.

passageway, and means for rotating some of said iiiipingement elements'relatively to the others. A

5; A device of the class described comprising means providing` a passageway, fluid means for forcing fruit through the passageway, impin'gement elements arrangedin t-h'ej passageway, means for rotating some' of said' impingemeiit elements. in one direction, and means for rotating the others in an opposite direction.

, 61. A device of the class described eci'nprising@ a barrel, impingeinent elements rotatably inouiitedtin said barrel, one behind the other, means for forcing' fruit through the; bai-"rel andy impingement elements, shafts `rotatably mounted 'upon said barrelgone Vshaft being gearedly connected to some of said impingement elements and the other shaft being" g'earedly connected to the other' iinpiiigements` elements, v and means for rot/ating said' shafts iii opposite directions.l

T.' A; device of the class described coiiipiising means providing a passageway, impingement elements arranged in said passageway,

iliiid'V means for forcing fruit through' the)l passageway, there being an entrance to the passageway for the'fi'uit forwardly' ofthe iii'ipi'ngemei'it elements, `and means4 disposed in said enti-ance for breaking 'up clusters of fruit.' j

8. devfice of thefclass described compris@ ing means providing a passageway, impinge'- ment elements arranged in said passageway',

Huid means 'ferfrQi-eng' frij'it throng-hi tire passageway, there being anentranee to the passageway for'the' fr'iiit 'forwardlyof the' impingement elements, and means disposed in said entrance for breaking upclusters of fruit comprising rotatable elements havingv passages therethroiiifgli rotatably 'mounted in the entrance and means for rotating lone of said elements relatively tothe' other.

9. AV device of the class described comprising means providing a passageway, impingen'ient'elemei'its arranged iny said passa'geway,v fluidmeaiis for' forcing fruit through thev passageway, there being an entrance to the passageway for the fruit'forwardly of the impingement eements, and kmeans disposed in said entra-'nce for breaking'up clusters of Vfruit comprising rotatable elements having passages' therethrough rotatably mounted in the entrance and means for rotating'saidlelements in opposite' directions'. Y

10. Adevice of the class described compi'ising means providinga passageway, iin- Jinge'menteleinentsarranged in said passageway, fluidY means for forcing 'fruit Vthrough the passageway, there being an entrance to the passageway for the fruit forwardly of the iinpingemeiit elements, and

means disposed in -said entrance for breaking' up clusters of' fruit comprising elements iiiountedin said entrance having' passagesv therethrough and-means for/moving said ele-v ments relatively to each other.

il. A device of the class described coin-, V prising. means providing: a passageway,

lui;

pneumatic means for forcing fruit throughk the passageway, means providing coarse and fine screens in the passageway behind the impi'ngemeiit elements, the coa-rse screen being arranged forwardly of `theiiiie screen, and means providing outlets from'the passageway forwardlyofeach screen;

Vl2.' A devicel of they classdescribed comprising means providing' af passageway, an

pipe leading to the forward end' Vof the passageway, for ydischar' ingV an air blast' therein, impingeme'nt elements arranged in the passageway, means providingan entrance for the froi'it toatheipassageway between the air pipe andthe iinpi'ngement elements, an apertured wall closing the forward end of the passageway about the air pipe, and removable` closures for' the apertures' ther-'ein as' and for' t-l'ie purpose described.vv t e f i3. A device of the class described comp'ris'ing a barrel" havi'iig its forward end closed'an'd havin'gitsreaiw rd' end formed of Astationary spaced sections, an air pipeleading into' the forwarden'd of said barrel", iin'l'ain'gement eleineiits'rGt-'atably mounted bepiiigement elementi-i5 means for rotating saidv lli) rtiv-e'e'i'i the' sections of the barrel, screen 1 closing the rear end' o'f' thel barrel',v4 two' shafts shafts in opposite directions, and means providing an entrance for fruit to the'barrel forwardly of the foremost impingement element. v l

14. A device of the class described comprising a barrel having its' forward end closedand having its rearward end formed of stationary spaced sections, an air pip-e Yleading into the forward end of said barrel,

impingement elements rotatably mounted between the sections of the barrel, a screen closing the rear end of the barrel, two shafts rotatably mounted upon the barrel, one shaft being gearedly connected to alternate impingement elements, means for rotating said shafts in opposite directions, in'eansproviding an entrance for fruit to the barrel forwardly of the foremost impingement element, cluster breaking elements having passages therethrough rotatable in the entrance, and means for rotating said cluster breaking elements relatively to each other.

15. A device ofthe class described' comprising` means providing a passageway, pneumatic means for forcing fruit through the passageway, thereA being a seriesof impingement elements arranged one behind .the other in the passageway, means for feeding fruit to the passageway forwardly ofthe impingement elements so as to be blown therethrough, means for segregating the fruit'r from other material after passing through the impingement elements, and means for rotating some of the impingement elements relatively to, others, said' impingel ments elements being in the form of annular rings having a pluralityY of sheet metalr b c blades extending thereacross.

16. A device of lthe class described coinprising means providing a passageway, pneumatic means for forcing fruit through the passageway, there being a series of impingenient elements arranged one behind the other in the passageway', means for'feeding fruit to the passageway forwardly of the impingement elements so as to be blown therethrough,

. means for segregating the fruit from other fri material after passing through the impingement elements, and means for rotating some of the impingement elements relatively toy others, said impingement elements being in the form of annular rings having a plurality 1 prising means providing a passageway, pneumatic means for forcing fruit through the passageway, there being a,V series of nnpingenent elements arranged one behind the other l in the passageway, means for feeding fruit to-the passageway forwardly of the imping-ement elements so as to be blown therethrough,

means for segregating the fruit from otherl material after passing, through the-impingement elements, and means for rotating some of the impingement elements relatively to others, said impingeinent elem-ents being in the form of annular rings having a plurality of parallel blades extending thereacross and at planes parallel to the direction of flow through the passageway, the forward edges of the blades being notched.

18. A device of the class described comprising means providing a passageway, pneumatic means for `forcing fruit through the passageway, there being a series .of impingement elements arranged one .behind the other in the passageway, means for'feeding fruit to the passageway forwardly of the imp'ingement elements so as to be blown therethrough, means for Y segregatingthe fruit from other material after passing through the impingement elements, and means for rotating some of the impingement elements relatively to others, said im'- pingeinent elements being'in the formvof annular rings having a plurality Aof parallel blades extending thereacross and at planes parallel to the direction of iiow through the passageway, the forward edges of the blades having notches Vwhich are formed by forming lugs on the vblades. and bending alternate lugs laterally in one direction and bending the intermediate lugs laterally in the other direction.

19. A device of the class described comprising means providing a passageway, pneumatic means for forcing fruit through the passageway, there being a series of impingeinent elements arranged Vone behind the'other in the passageway, alternate impingement elements being stationary and intermediate impingement elements being movable, means for rotating alternate movable impingement elements in one direction, means for rotating intermediate. movable impingeinent elements in the opposite direction, means for feeding fruit to the passageway forwardly ofthe impingement elements, and means for segregating the fruit from other material after having passed throughv the impingeinent elements.

20. A device of the class described comprising means providing a passageway, 'im- VlyY toV each othersaid cluster breaking elements being operatively connected 4to the impingement elements so as to bedrivenv thereby, and means for segregating fruitH from other material after passing the impingement elements.

21. A device of the class described comprising means providing apassageway, rotatable impingement elements disposed in the passageway, shafts located on vopposite sides of the passageway and gearedly con-v nected to the impingement elements, one shaft being gearedly connected to alternate impingement elements and the other shaft being gearedly connected to intermediate,V

impingement elements, stationaryv impingement elements disposed between the mentoned iinpingementelements, there being an entrance to the passageway forwardly of the impingement elements through which tbroii gh toy be rotated thereby, means for rotating f said shafts in opposite directions, pneumatic meansfor forcingthe fruitthrough the passageway!l and impingement elements,

and means for segregating the fruit from impingement elements.

I In testimony whereof I'have signed my name to this specification. l Y ROBERT P. FRIST;

other material after' passing through the 

